NOV 27 -- MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA - Sheldon J. Sperling, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, announced today that JARED MACCHIRELLA, age 32, of Stuart, Oklahoma, pled guilty to two counts of Interstate Travel in Aid of Racketeering, in violation of Title 18 U.S.C. Sections 1952(a)(3).

“Charges arose from an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics, the McAlester Police Department, and the Internal Revenue Service. A two-count felony information was filed charging the defendant with interstate travel in aid of racketeering to carry on the unlawful activities of possessing and distributing methamphetamine, in excess of 500 grams,” stated U.S. Attorney Sheldon J. Sperling. “The defendant waived indictment and pled guilty.”

“The charging document, to which the defendant pled guilty, alleged that from about January 1, 2004, and continuing to June 1, 2005, MACCHIRELLA traveled from Oklahoma to Arkansas for the intended purpose of possessing and distributing methamphetamine,” continued U.S. Attorney Sperling.

“Special Agents of the DEA Oklahoma City District and McAlester Resident Offices, assisted by various federal, state, and local agencies successfully dismantled the Jared MACCHIRELLA and Brian Fry methamphetamine drug organization, based out of McAlester, Oklahoma. This Priority Target Organization (PTO) distributed in excess of 20 pounds of methamphetamine per month in East Oklahoma and North Texas since 2003. Special Agents of the DEA led their team of law enforcement partners through the execution of a two-phased investigation consisting of the execution of eleven federal & state search warrants and undercover purchases of methamphetamine and pseudoephedrine. An extensive financial investigation was conducted, including document search warrants, cash flow analysis, ex-parte tax orders, analysis of cash trade assets, asset tracing, and analysis of real property,” stated U.S. Attorney Sperling.

“The DEA Oklahoma City District and McAlester Resident Offices conducted this investigation with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Internal Revenue Service, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Oklahoma State Bureau of Narcotics, Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, Oklahoma Department of Corrections, Oklahoma National Guard, Oklahoma Highway Patrol, District Attorney Drug Task Forces 18 & 22, Hughes and Pittsburg County (Oklahoma) Sheriff’s Departments, and the McAlester, Oklahoma Police Department,” U.S. Attorney Sperling continued.

“This investigation resulted in the arrests of 53 defendants, the seizure of over 115 firearms, and the removal of approximately 7,000 rounds of ammunition. In addition, the abstraction of pseudoephedrine and methamphetamine and the seizure of passenger vehicles, motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles, and real estate ensued. The federal prosecution of thirteen defendants by the United States Attorney, Eastern District of Oklahoma, two of which were never arrested, and anticipated seizures of real property and assets, in excess of three million dollars, are expected,” added U.S. Attorney Sperling.

James L. Capra, Special Agent in Charge (SAC) of the DEA’s Dallas Field Division, firmly believes that these cooperative efforts send a powerful message to those trying to profit from illicit drug sales in Oklahoma. “Today, we have come together with many of our law enforcement partners to achieve a common goal. The dismantling of this Mexican methamphetamine distribution network is a major success in its own right. The far bigger success however, is that we have sent a profound message to any and all remaining drug dealers; that the law enforcement partnerships are solid, strong, and willing to go the distance to make our communities safe for our citizens.”

“This is yet another domino to fall in such a significant drug enforcement case for the citizens of Eastern Oklahoma. These types of conspirators only mean pain and grief to our state while making enormous monetary profits. We need more than to simply disrupt these home-grown terrorists but we must totally dismantle them to the core. As a state, we must have great resolve when dealing with these groups and we will fight for every town and every county in our state in our quest for a drug-free Oklahoma,” added Director R. Darrell Weaver of the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics.

“The Honorable Steven P. Shreder, Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, in Muskogee, accepted the defendant’s guilty plea and ordered the completion of a presentence report. Sentencing will be scheduled following their completion. The defendant is in the custody of the United States Marshal’s Service, pending sentencing.”

“The statutory range of punishment is up to five (5) years imprisonment and/or fines totaling $250,000.00 for each count,” stated U.S. Attorney Sperling.

Assistant United States Attorney Dennis A. Fries represented the government.